‘Before hiring a domestic help, check credentials of agency, person’

By: Sameer Lone

Srinagar: The placement agencies providing domestic help services have come under scanner with many placement agencies being sealed. The  police and civil administration have swung into action after a gruesome murder and a theft case that took place in Srinagar.

An old aged women was murdered by her domestic help who was later identified a young boy who was hired through a placement agency. The boy was later arrested when he was trying to escape from the murder spot.

Similarly, few days later this sensational murder, another domestic help looted a huge amount of cash and jewelry from another household.

In order to take immediate measures to control these increasing crime incidents, the civil administration and Jammu and Kashmir Police have started to track all these placement offices and have started sealing those who have failed to furnish relevant documents that are needed to run the placement agency dealing with providing domestic helpers to the needy households.

According to sources, the Rajbagh Police station has so far sealed offices of three placement agencies on the directions of the Executive Magistrate concerned of the area. “Many more such offices of placement agencies will be sealed till they furnish relevant documents,” they said.

A senior police officer told the Precious Kashmir that they have sealed several offices who have failed to furnish relevant documents.

“These placement agencies bring boys and girls from outside states and send them as house servants to the households who need them. But to run these services there is a proper procedure like an interstate license and a license from the Labour Commission are some of the important documents,” said another senior police officer.

The police have requested the general public looking for domestic help to cross check all the details while hiring a domestic help from any  placement agency as many agencies are indulging in frauds.

In most of the cases, according to a police investigation, the modus operandi is to give advertisements in newspapers for providing domestic servants, giving mobile numbers, to attract prospective clients.

These servants work most diligently and try to win the faith of their employers and disappear suddenly, if they have the chance to lay their hands on cash or other costlier but small items like gold, mobile, watch etc. In a related incident, there was reportedly a case wherein a newly recruited maid abducted an 18-month-old-boy and was recovered from Faridabad and four persons were arrested.

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Set-up committee to devise mechanism to ensure that NPS contributions of employees are credited on time

By: Ibni Maqbool

Srinagar: In a significant move, the administration of Jammu & Kashmir has set-up a committee for streamlining implementation of New Pension Scheme (NPS) in the Union Territory.

Headed by Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary) Finance Department, the five-member panel has been constituted for streamlining implementation of NPS and to monitor grievances as well as timely registration and credit of contribution to subscribers’ accounts in the UT of J&K.

According to an order, a copy of which is in possession of The Precious Kashmir, the panel has been mandated to ensure that the contribution of employees and the government are credited without delay to the NPS financial architecture both in case of existing employees and newly recruited from time to time.

The order further states that the existing system and procedure being followed for the purpose shall be monitored effectively to ensure that no delay in credit of the contributions takes place.

As per its terms of reference, the committee shall ensure that in case any grievance by any employee is received in regard to delay in credit of contribution, either directly from the employee or through Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), the same shall be looked into and disposed of in a manner to the satisfaction of the concerned employee.

The committee shall also look into any other matter as having a bearing on the issue of crediting/remittance of NPS contributions.

“The committee shall devise its own mechanism as also appropriate checks and balances to ensure that NPS contribution are credited on time in respect of all employees under NPS system,” the order further states.

The order further states that the committee shall meet at least once in three months to review the progress and in case any slippages are noticed, it shall take immediate corrective action.